A proposal by the Austalian Tax Service to apply the ten percent Goods and Services Tax (GST) to manufactured home communities (MHCs) has residents of the communities up in arms, MHProNews has been informed. A ten percent increase at Sunstrip MHC in Blacksmiths would result in a $1000 a year increase for most of the over 50 residents, a cost they can ill afford, leading them to submit a petition to their Member of Parliament, Jill Hall. Ms. Hall said “Manufactured home park villages provide low-cost housing to thousands of people in the region, with about 20 park villages in my own electorate.” According to theherald.com.au, Sunstrip owners Chris Lake and John Deadman say residents’ rents would rise ten percent, the equivalent of five years of rent increases at one time.

(Photo credit: multihousingnews.com–Audubon Estates)